Live2D

Live2D is a software framework and suite of tools developed by Live2D, Inc. that enables real-time animation of two-dimensional artwork to create models with a sense of depth. Rather than building a three-dimensional character, Live2D animates a flat illustration by warping a mesh over the art and applying parameter-driven motions, producing a 2.5D appearance.

The core concept is mesh-based deformation and parameter-driven animation. An artist prepares a layered 2D illustration (often from a PSD), assigns deformable regions to a mesh, and defines parameters such as eye blink, mouth shapes, head tilt, and pose. The result is a model that can be controlled at runtime by software to produce continuous motion, expressions, and responses.

Key components include Live2D Cubism Editor for authoring models, and the Live2D runtime SDKs that integrate into game engines and platforms. Supported runtimes include Unity, Unreal, Cocos2d, and native mobile and web environments. Models are exported in a format that the runtime can load and render with lighting, shading, and blending.

Live2D is widely used in applications such as VTuber avatars, mobile and desktop games, visual novels, and interactive media. It is valued for allowing expressive, high-quality character visuals without full 3D modeling, enabling rapid iteration and lighter performance footprints than true 3D assets.

Originating in Japan, Live2D, Inc. released the first versions in the early 2010s as a solution for animating 2D art. The Cubism line evolved to support more sophisticated shading, physics, and multi-scene models, and it remains a prominent tool in 2D character animation and avatar creation.